Signal for weighing-scales



E. G. THOMAS.

`SLGNAL FOR WEIGHING SCALES.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.13, 1917.

Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

' 31a/vauro@ Edward. Thomas fl ya* Stumm,

l Scales, of which rss F i Q E EDWARD G.. THOMAS, OIE TOLEDO, OHTO, ASSTGNOR-TO TOLEDO SCALE COMPANY, 0F

TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SIGNAL FOR WIGHING-SCALES.

To all whom t may concern: u' Y Be it known that I, EDWARD G. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas andV State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals for Weighingthe following is a specification.

Y This invention relates to devices for indicating whether or not a weighing scale is in a leveliposition or beyond a certain degree out of levelposition in order that there will be pointed out-the need for its adjustment should itbe beyond an allowable degree out of level. i'

The "majority of States and towns now have ordinances and regulations providing for the degree of accuracy of weighing scales which'may be used in the territory covered by Such laws and providing for penalties forthe use of scales which do not weighV within the tolerances which the regulations provide, the enforcement of these laws being given to a bodyl of inspectors whose duty it is to examine the scales and note whether they act withinthe `prescribed standard. In order not to incur the linancial penalties which will arise from theuse of inaccurate scales, as well as to'give'honest weight in their transactions, the users' of scales must use all possible Aprecautions to insure the accuracy of their weighing devices. The makers Vof scales on their part are prepared to furnish to th'egeneral public scales which will weigh within very narrow limits of accuracy,but it is requisite that the scales while infuse shall be maintained in the position for whichl they were originally adjusted. Since, however, Ythe position of the scale depends'upon the solidity ofthe counter or table upon which it is placed, it is obvious that the scale may be accidentally thrown out of levelby the warping or other` change in shape of its support, or byv the temporary'b'ending of the counter or table through the depositing `upon it of heavy weightsof material.- Y

.Thejpurpose of myY invention isA to furnish an :indication of an out-of-level position Vwhich shall `forcibly. attract the eye and be located. in a prominent position, thus effectivelynotifyingthe user of the scale'that the scale is not in condition for jaccurate weighing. Provision may also be made'for displaying the indicator t@ the customer as Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed october 1s, 1917. serial No. 19e,513.

well asV to the user toV permit a check on any dealer who might desire to use the scale when not in position for honest weighings.

With the above objects in view, which will readily appear from the following description, my invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts more fully described in the follow? ing specification and set forth in the sub*- joined claims.

Referring tothe drawings, which por-l tray an illustrativeform of my invention,

and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the sev` eral views Figure l shows a front elevation of a well-known type of scale in which a portion 0f the casing has been broken away to show some of the parts which enter into my invention;

Fig. 2`is a detail elevation of a pivoted weighted member forming a part of m indicating device, showing the method of its support from the casing lof the scale;

F 3 shows a. modified form of my de! vice in normal orv non-indicating position; and

Fig. 4 is a view of the device shown in Fig. 3 when the scale has been tilted from aV level position. Referring to the drawings, 1 designates atypical counter weighing scale, and in the preferred form shown employs a pendulum as its weight-offsetting element. AA normally vertical weighted member 3 is pivotally supported upon a 4bracket t. on the casingQ in suchl a manner as to move freely in all vertical'planesl The weighted member 3 preferably 4consists of a frame 5 carrying a downwardly extending rod n6 upon which a weight 7 is fastened in anysuitable manner and an upwardly-extending rod l() of a length relatively much greater than the distance from the point of the pivot to the weight 7. A cone'pivot 8 carried centrally of the frame registers with and en` ters a cup-shaped depression 9 in the bracket 4. It will be noted that by virtue of this construction and vmounting the weighted member will always maintain a vertical position,"and a relatively slight movement of the arm 6 carrying the weight will cause a much-greater movement ofthe arm l0.

A 'signalll is pivotally secured to the casing 2 of the scale, as M912, SQ as to swing in a vertical plane, and normally is hidden behind a portion oi' the casing, as shown'inV full lines in Fig. 1. Attached to the signal 11'is a downwardly extending member 13l preferably terminating in a point which is so located as to register `with and rest upon theupper end ofV rodV when the scale vis in a level position. If the end of member Y 13 does not so register with the endof -rod 10, the signal 11 will not be supported and will fall to-the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, where it will be prominently displayed to the eye of both merchant and customer.

will occupy thecsame position relatively tov Since* thej weighted member 3 the horizontal at alltimes because of its freedom'of motion on .cone pivot 8, such a lack of' registrationbetween the lower end of member 134 and upperend of rod 10 can only occur whenrthe scale is tipped to an out-offle'vel position. `llllhenthe scale becomes tipped in this manner, member 13 willv f slip from the end of rod 10 and then, being by the laws, the relative dimensions of the Y bottom oi member-13 and theupper endnof rod 10 are designed so that the signal will be supported until the scale has changed its level suliiciently toV cause the error in weighing due to it to approach or exceed the permitted tolerance, and if it is vdesired that the change of'level of the scale shall be greater in one direction than in a direction at right angles thereto before the operation of the signalV shall occur, the end of rod 10 or the lower end of member 13 or bothV may be made of greater dimensions in one direction than in another.: In Figs. 3 and 4 the weighted member 3a is similarly supported from the casing 2 of the scale so as to rbe free `to move in: all verticalV planes, and

the signal 20 -pivoted ina bracket 21 attached to the casing o the scale is so weighted that theV targetl is normally retained in a concealed `position by aV weight 22. A cord, chain or other flexible connection 26` is attached to an arm 23 on the'target 20, passes through Yan opening 24 in a guideplate 25y secured toy casing 2, and is then lirmlyV fastened to the end' of Vrod 10a of weighted member 3a.k It will be obvious that a change in level. in the scale will cause relative motion between the end of rod 10a and openingr24 inguide-pl'ate 25, asis illustrated in Fig. 4, andwithout regard to the of the scale to the fact that the'scaleis not Y.

in suitable conditionto weigh in an accu-v rate manner.V lIn orderV that a greater change of level of the scale may occur in one direction than in-a directionat Vright anglesthereto before the signal 2O is displayed, opening 24 inbracket 25 may be elongated in the desired direction. Any suitable warning, descriptive or instructive marking may be arranged" upon the display signal, whereby the user will be notified that the scale is out Vof level and enabled to correct its position. V

While itwill be apparent that the illustrated embodiment .of my invention. herein' disclosed' isi-well Vcalculated to. adequately fulfil thezobjects primarily stated, itis to beunderstood that my-invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change without departing Jfrom the spirit and scope of the invention asset forth in the subjoined claims. y .Y 1

Having describedamy invention, I claimz. 1. The combination with a weighing scale having air-ame, ofa signal hiddenbehind a portion of the frame when the scale is level and means whereby the signal is automatically displayed when the scale 'is not-in level position. Y 5 p 2L The combination with Va weighingscale having alframe, of a signalfcarried by the frame and hidden when the scale is level, and meanswhereby the signal is automatically exposedfto view when the scale' is not in level position. Y Y

3. The'combination with a weighing scaleV having: a frame, of a signal* pivoted upon the frame'and hidden `when the scale is level, andv meanswhereby the signal is automatically eXposed to viewonly whenthe scale is out oflevel position beyond apredetermined degree. i v

4. The combination with a weighingscaleV Y having a frame, of a signal carried bythe frame, means also carried bythe frame for maintaining the signal in a hidden position while the scale is level, and meanswhereby the signal is automatically Yexposed to vievv when the scale is out of levelposition beyond a predetermined degree. f

izo

5. i The combination with a weighing scale Y having a frame, ofa signal hidden behind a portion ofthe ramewhenthescale is level',Y means whereby the signal is automatically displayed when'the scale` is :not in level `position, and means orrestoring the signal to its hidden position when the scale is leveled. A Y

6; VThe combllationwith a weighing scale I having a frame, of a weighted member pivotally supported thereon, a signal normally supported in a hidden position by the weighted member, and means whereby said signal will be displayed on the change of position of the weighted member relatively to the scale frame when the scale is tilted.

7. The combination with a weighing scale having a frame, of a weighted member pivotally supported thereon and capable of swinging in all directions, a signal normally hidden from view, and supported upon the weighted member, and means whereby said signal will be displayed upon a change of position of the weighted member relatively to the scale frame.

8. The combination with a weighing scale having a frame, of a weighted member pivotally supported thereonk and capable of swinging in all directions, means for multiplying the motion of the weighted portion of said member, a signal normally hidden from view and operatively associated Vwith the weighted member at its point of greatest motion, whereby said signal will be displayed upon a change of position between the scale frame and the weighted member.

9. rlhe combination with a weighing scale having a frame, of a weighted member piv otally supported thereon and capable of swinging in all directions, means for multiplying the motion of the weighted portion ofrsaid member, a signal normally hidden from view and operatively associated with the weighted member at its point of greatest motion, whereby said signal will be displayed upon a change of position between the scale frame and the weighted member,

and means for restoring the signal to its original position.

10. The combination with a weighing scale having a `frame, a weighted member pivotally supported thereon, a signal normally retained in hidden position by the weighted member, and means or causing 'said signal to assume a new position upon a change due to tilting of said frame in the relative positions of the scale frame and weighted member.

1l. In combination, a scale frame, a pivoted signal normally hidden from view behind the trame, a weighted member mounted upon the frame and normally supporting said signal, and means controlled by the weighted member for causing the signal to fall into an exposed position upon a change of level of said scale.

12. In combination, a scale frame, a pivoted signal attached thereto and urged toward exposed position, and a weighted member pivotally supported on said scale frame and adapted toV retain the signal in concealed position while the scale frame is in a level position.

13. In a scale, in combination, a scale frame, an overweighted pivoted signal attached thereto and normally urged by gravity toward exposed position, a weighted member universally pivotally supported on said scale frame and adapted when in one position only to retain said signal against movement to exposed position.

EDWARD G. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

F. A. CROWLEY, GEORGE R. FRYE. 

